Joe Maddock says he has learned to expect the unexpected playing outside Butch James – and has hailed Bath's "Super 14" attacking style, writes Steve Cotton.

But the New Zealander admits his team must also start learning lessons from their high-profile late defeats at Toulouse and Leicester if they are to challenge for honours this season.

James and Maddock combined for a sublime try at Welford Road at the weekend, the wing going over after a brilliant grubber kick and pass from the South African fly-half.

Maddock's return pass looked to have set James up for the score, but he selflessly drew the cover and popped the ball back to his free-scoring wing, who dived over for his fifth Guinness Premiership try of the season.

"The thing I have learned from playing with Butch for the last year and a half is that you have got to expect it – you never know when you are going to get the pass from him," said Maddock.

"He drew the winger nicely and put me down the sideline; I drew the full-back, and when he couldn't quite get there, I was lucky enough to be there at the right time.

"I'd love to say it was a training ground move – but not quite! It was really just an execution of skill. He showed great skill with his little grubber and then it was just simple passing after that."

James' conversion put Bath 22-9 up – but they ended up losing 24-22 after failing to hold onto the ball and the lead, just as they had done in the final seconds at Toulouse in October.

"It was disappointing that we didn't finish it off and disappointing we missed an opportunity to get a rare away win up at Welford Road," said Maddock.

"All in all, the boys were gutted but we have got another big game this weekend and we have to move on quickly.

"The challenge for us this weekend is to make sure that if we put ourselves in a position like we did against Leicester – or Toulouse – that we don't squander it.

"We need to push on, keep playing and shut the game down. The lesson for me, and hopefully the team, to take on board is that with 20 minutes to go the game is not over.

"We know we can play rugby, and for 60 minutes at Leicester we were easily the best team on the pitch, but for that last 20 we just stopped playing. We kicked the ball and we turned it over – so the key for us now is to keep playing when we get into those positions.

"We are learning lessons in those games we are losing – the important thing is that we apply them in future games. To learn lessons now will be invaluable in April or May when the big games come."

Maddock enjoyed great success with the all-conquering Crusaders in his homeland before joining Bath in 2004 – and can see parallels between his current side and the Christchurch-based super-power, who have won seven Super 12 or 14 titles since 1998.

"I certainly think that as far as any team in England, Bath are as close to a Super 14 team as you can get with the style we play," said Maddock.

"There are other teams like London Irish and maybe Gloucester, who will chuck the ball around a bit, but I don't think that they will chance their arm as much as Bath do.

"That is certainly a trait that a lot of Super 14 rugby teams have – they are willing to run it from anywhere, which we are, and they score some fantastic tries, which we can do."